Can singing three times a week really improve reading fluency in struggling readers? Schools are resoundingly saying, "Yes!"
Research Supports Music Connection to Fluency
The University of South Florida has conducted a study based on singing technology motivating students to become better readers. The original program was developed in 2004 and named Carry-A-Tune which evolved into computer software with an on-screen speech recognition model. Susan Homan, professor of literacy at the University of South Florida, headed the study to determine if this music program can actually raise scores of struggling readers.
The study monitored 48 students. Half of those students were part of a control group and the other half comprised struggling readers. At the end of nine weeks, the control group made no reading gains but the struggling readers using Tune In to Reading improved one full year. In the third year of research, more students were monitored. "The first and second studies involved over 500 students at the elementary, middle and high school levels. The results were consistent. All struggling readers gained one year or more instructionally in nine weeks of use," says Homan. [1]
The "Tune-in to Reading" Model
The program consists of a combination of reading passages and songs with instant feedback. Students using headphones attached to a microphone, follow a computer screen and sing along with a paced song based on a reading level text. The computer documents rhythm and pitch and resembles a karaoke machine. Students enjoy raising their own score from day to day. To be effective, the program should be used three times a week for 30 minutes at a time.
"Tune-in to Reading" Results
Schools throughout the nation are piloting the music program in anticipation of raising reading scores for struggling readers. They are not disappointed. The results are posted online and school after school posts similar results of tremendous growth in nine weeks.
- Pronghorn Elementary School in Campbell, Wyoming posted growth on May 4th, 2009 for ten students using Tune Into Reading. The Pre-Test level was 3.5 and the Post-Test showed 5.2 for a growth of 1.7 years in 9 weeks.
- Churchville Elementary School in Hartford County, Maryland posted growth for eight struggling 3rd graders using the program from Jan 8, 2009 to April 28, 2009 for 12 weeks. Pre-Test scores were 2.0 and Post-Test scores increased to 3.5. Churchville also shows that six 4th graders used the program from Jan. 8, 2009 to April 28, 2009 with growth from 3.0 to 4.7.
- Monticello Middle School in Arkansas administered the music program from Jan. 12, 2008 to April 7, 2009 to struggling readers for 10 weeks. 6th grade scores grew from 2.8 to 5.8. 7th grade scores grew from 2.0 to 3.3. 8th grade scores grew from 2.7 to 3.4 for an average of 1.5 years in 10 weeks.
- St. Francis Middle School in Minnesota administered Tune Into Reading to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders for 12 weeks. The 6th graders grew from 3.6 to 4.6. 7th graders grew from 4.3 to 6.3. 8th graders grew from 3.1 to 5.1. [2]
Tune-in to Reading is in the beginning stages but the research is showing that struggling readers are not only growing in reading fluency skills but having fun doing it.
References:
[1] Rammohan, Yasmin Tara. "Sing your way to reading," Medill Reports, Northwestern University, May 9, 2007.
Related article: Fine Arts Change the Brain
Barbara Pytel - Email me Experience Although I was never particularly fond of going to school as an ELL student, I ironically became a teacher, ...
